Chapter 54

Dusty really upset Symone when she said, “They do have a point.”

“Oh, you horrid woman,” she spat and went to strike Dusty.

Dusty caught her hand mid-flight and held it. “Oh my, they really do have a point, don’t they, dear? How have you been getting away with next to no talent at all?”

“She always has us with her,” said one of the two female guards who stepped forward. “We are her guards, and she channels our spells. We thought she was enhancing them.”

“Hum. Yes, I see. An easy skill to learn as no real talent is required,” Dusty replied. “So, which of you heals?”

“Neither of us. If someone requires healing, then she tells us to get Demetri. Him having working items makes sense. We have always found doing spells with him very efficient. And he feels different when we join him, as he pulls magic from us if he needs more rather than just being a channel for us.”

“So, you really are a fake, Symone. I’m sorry, but they are correct. You cannot rule according to the laws here. They state very clearly that the highest-ranking magician is to rule.”

“Then you are the ruler,” Demetri said to Dusty.

Dusty grinned, “Yes and no. I’m an Overlord, so I rule over you all. I can appoint anyone I wish to rule over specific areas under my protection. I want a Lord Wizard to rule over the settled areas of this continent. For now, I would like you to rule Amber, Demetri.”

“One of your other wizards from your Decad will rule over Blue Waters, and you are to pick a second Wizard to rule over River View. The rest will follow in time.”

“I’m not getting out of this, am I?” Demetri asked.

At Dusty’s shake of her head, he sighed. “Fine, does anyone here object to me becoming the Lord Wizard of Amber?”

If anyone said nay, it was never heard.

Symone had fled the table, and Dusty made Demetri take her seat.

Dusty finally got to eat her lunch before doling out magical boxes. As Dusty predicted, none of the current nobles received a high-order vambrace.

Five of the two gemmed medallions did take pity on those who did have the talent and had for the most part, been honest with the people about everything else. They effectively kept their jobs.

Ten of those rejected offered up their children to be tested. In each case, a candidate was accepted to replace the parent to keep the title in the family. Demetri hinted to Dusty that this would cause the least disturbance, so she went along with it.

Interestingly, a two-gemmed ring went to those lords and ladies who willingly stepped down.

The other five lords were a problem. One of the men was the self-styled ruler of Blue Waters. He was not happy when Dusty promoted his wife, Pyah over him by making her a wizard.

Dusty wasn’t immediately aware that she had just doomed his marriage.

Pyah’s marriage had been arranged, and now Pyah could get out of it.

A noble decided whom they married, and he wasn’t the noble anymore. He had been penniless, and her parents had been after the prestige. Pyah had suffered as his wife for five years and spent most of her time trying to fix his fuckups.

He was also crap in bed, and she now knew why he wasn’t enough for her. With her parents dead, she didn’t have to continue the farce. He was kicked out of her home the same day.

Pyah gave him a pension and one of the small houses they owned and told him not to come crawling to her for more. She planned to go looking for someone who could satisfy her while she got her family’s businesses back on track and her people back into employment.

Meeting Dusty was the best day of her life so far.

Four of the Shifters proved to be very gifted.

Dusty got them together with the four nobles who had lucked out. She proposed they worked out a way for the new Nobles to replace the now-deposed Nobles to rule their regions. Demetri knew to keep an eye on those four in particular. He had also suggested the pairings.

Most of the other shifters received novice class items and were pleased. Some of the other children of the previous Nobles also received novice class items, but it was agreed they would simply be magicians and not new nobles like the deposed parents.

The lunch finally broke up, and the people headed home or off in groups to sort out the changes in their lives.

“So, who is the wizard for your little town, River View?” Demetri asked Dusty after everyone, but he, Josh and James were left with her.

“Josh,” she said.

“What!” Josh exclaimed.

Dusty had promised him mage items, not bloody wizard’s items. He was totally pole-axed.

“I told you that you would be running the base,” she said reasonably.

“Yeah, but,” he stuttered.

“What? You defer to Demetri when it comes to wizards’ matters since he is your Lord Wizard and me when I’m around. I won’t ask you to do anything that undermines Demetri. If you think it will, then tell me, and we will sort it out.”